Bridges joined Sunderland on 9th November 1995 and after being capped by England at
Schoolboy and Youth level went on to gain three caps at Under-Twenty-One level before his
career was blighted by injury. He was still only eighteen when he broke into the Sunderland
team and he went on to score sixteen goals in thirty-one starts and forty-eight games from
the bench in the League, played twice in the F.A. Cup without scoring and managed five goals
in eight starts and three substitute appearances in the League Cup. He signed for Leeds
United in a £5 million deal on 29th July 1999, after growing frustrated with his inability to
break into the first team ahead of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips. He quickly established
himself as a fans' favourite at Elland Road with a hat-trick in only his second appearance in
a Leeds Shirt. The young striker, a native of the North East, was determined to join Leeds
United because of David O'Leary's youth policy, ironically turning down a move to link up
with former Leeds boss, George Graham, at Tottenham Hotspur. He was soon turning in some
impressive performances, and proved a vital addition to the squad with his ability to hold
the ball up and deceptive turn of pace. Bridges went on to score over twenty goals in his
first season at Elland Road and was a key player for Leeds in their European campaign. His
reward was to become a regular in the England Under-Twenty-One squad, and started the opening
match of the European Championships against Slovakia. Injury robbed Bridges of taking part in
Leeds' historic Champions League run in 2000-01, and he was once again out of most of 2001-02,
but made his comeback in Gary Kelly's testimonial in May 2002. Bridges played in nine games
at the start of the 2002-03 season but injury was once again to force him to sit on the
sidelines. He managed a few more appearances in 2003-04, and in February 2004 he joined
Newcastle United on loan for three months, making six appearances as a substitute. After that
loan ended he returned to Elland Road, but only briefly, as he signed for Bolton Wanderers in
June 2004, where he hoped to have better fortune in his search for regular football. Before
he could make an appearance for Bolton though, he was loaned out back to Sunderland. In a
three month spell he impressed sufficiently to earn himself a permanent contract, and in
December 2004, the deal was done. After scoring once in five starts and fourteen substitute
appearances he was not retained, and, in July 2005, he moved on a free transfer to Bristol City.
He failed to score in eleven League games, seven of which were as a substitute, but did score
in one substitute appearance in the League Cup, but as he could not cement a place, he was
loaned to Carlisle United in November 2005. He soon established himself and signed for them
permanently on a free transfer in January 2006. He found his scoring touch with ten goals in
fifteen games and two substitute appearances and totalled fifteen goals in twenty-nine starts
and two games from the bench in the League and one goalless substitute appearance in the
League Cup. He then left for Hull City on 31st August 2006 for £350,000 on a three year
contract, but once again he failed to cement a first team spot and was loan out to Sydney FC
in the A-League for six months in October 2007, where he scored twice in nine appearances,
before he returned. Hull were duly promoted to the EPL and in July 2008 Bridges was loaned
out to Carlisle for a year. He scored seven times in twelve starts and eighteen games from
the bench in the League, one substitute appearance without scoring in the F.A. Cup, one start
and one game from the bench without scoring in the League Cup and one goal in his only
appearance in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy. When his contract with Hull City ran out in June
2009, he had scored twice in nine starts and thirteen games from the bench in the League and
had scored once in two appearances in the League Cup. He had an unsuccessful trial with
Norwich City before signing with MK Dons on 5th August 2009. He did not stay long with the
Dons, making only two appearances, one in the League and one in the League Cup, and returned
to Australia to sign for the Newcastle Jets in a contract that ran to 30th September 2010. He
scored six goals in fifteen appearances in his first season with the Jets. In December 2009
his contract was extended to December 2011. On 22nd July 2010 Bridges was made Captain of
Newcastle Jets. He scored once in seven starts for Newcastle in the 2010-11 season. Bridges
announced his retirement 29th April 2011. The former Newcastle Jets Captain who was immensely
popular with his peers and club management was not lost to the Newcastle Jets after accepting
a position with the club, as International Football & Business Development Manager. Bridges
will share his time with the Jets Commercial team and involving his passion and knowledge for
the game by working with the soon to be established Jets Academy to develop and enhance the
junior talent in the region.